Motor using projectiles



July 24, 1928.

J. c. JOHNSTON ko'roR usme PROJEOTILES Filed June i925 Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES;

JOSEPH C. JOHNSTON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

MOTOR USING rnozrncrrnns.

Application filed June 3, 1925. Serial No. 34,628.

This invention relates to a motor and particularly to a motor comprising an impulse wheel driven by projectiles projected from a conduit by a fluid pressure. While various fluids might be used, the invention particularly contemplates the use of steam as a projecting fluid.

It is an object of this invention to pro vide a simple and efficient motor comprising an impulse wheel having blades or vanes with which is alined a pipe or conduit to which fluid under pressure is supplied and which has an opening adapted to receive comparatively small projectiles which pass into said conduit and are projected against said impulse wheel.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a motor, as set forth in the preceding paragraph, in which the impulse wheel and the end of the pipe alining therewith are disposed in a closed casing having its walls converging toward its bottom, said casing having means for moving the project es at the bottom of said casing toward the opening in said pipe or conduit. V

. It is still another object of the invention to provide a motor, as defined in the preced ng paragraph, in which the means for moving the projectiles toward the openlng in the pipe or conduit is driven by the impulse wheel.

It is still another obj provide a motor, as above set equipped with a suitable governor driven from the impulse wheel for regulating the supply of steam to said pipe and condu1t It is still another object of the invention ect of the invention to to provide a motor comprisingan impulsewheel and a pipe or conduit adapted to project projectiles thereagainst, said pipe having an automatically operated valve for preventing projectiles passing into the lower end thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views, and in which, v

Fig. 1 is an end view of the apparatus, as seen from the right of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fi 1, as indicated by the arrows;

forth, which is- Fig. '3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2, as indicated by the an rows; and

Fig. .4 is a detached view .of the propelling pipe or conduit in plan a portion thereof being shown in horizontal section.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises a frame 5 having spaced substantially vertical walls 5 carrying at their upper ends a casing 6 having downwardly converging end walls 6 and a downwardly inclined side wall 6 the other side wall of said casing being formed by a continuation of one of the sidewalls 5?. The bottom of the casing 6 is formed by a trough having substantially vertical side and end walls and a rounded bottom 6. The casing 6 has a projecting flange 6 at its upper edge and a top 7 is provided having a corresponding flange 7 resting on and bolted to the flange 6 If desired, a gasket may be inserted between said flanges. WVhile the top 7 may be made of various shapes, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, it is shown as semi-cylindrical in form. The same has a top central hub threaded to receive an outlet pipe 8 leading therefrom. Bearings 9 are bolted to the outer side of easing 6 in which is journaled a shaft 10 extending transversely of said casing, which sh aft has secured thereto an impulse wheel 11, said wheel being illustrated as having a member ll 'from which projects vanes or blades 11", said blades preferably being surrounded at each side by flanges 11. A pipe or conduit 12 is provided having an openupper end constituting a'nozzle, the upper end of said pipe being supported in a bearing 13 bolted to one of the ends 6. Said pipe extends at an angle to the vertical, as shown in Fig. 2, which angle, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, is shown as substantially forty-five degrees. Said pipe 12 ex-v tends downwardly substantially in contact with or slightly set into one side of the trough at the bottom of easing 6 and projects through a bracket l l secured to the bottom of the trough at the bottom of casing 6. Said pipe 12, below the casing 6, has a lower section 12* secured-thereto and a steam supply pipe 15 is connected thereto by a suitable T coupling 16 having therein a controlling valve 15. The lower end of section 12 is closed by a pipe 17 having a central aperture therethrough through Which passes a rod 18 carrying a piston-forming collar 19 in section 12. A coiled compression spring 20 surrounds rod 18 and is disposed between collar 19 and cap 17, rod 18 being held in position by a nut threaded on its outer end, which nut contacts the cap 17. The rod 18 projects upwardly through the apertured upper end of section 12, thus effectively closing said upper endand the lower end of the upper section of pipe 12. The pipe 12 has an opening 12 of considerable extent at its side which is disposed toward the trough at the bottom of easing 6. At each side of the pipe 12 and particularly the opening 12 therein is a screw or helix 21, said screws being of opposite pitch and having a common hub secured to a shaft 22 journalcd in suitable bearings 28 secured. to the ends'of the trough at the bottom of the casing 6 and in bearings 24 secured to the side members 5. The shaft 22 has cured thereto a beveled gear 25 with which meshes another beveled gear 26 carried by a shaft 27 journaled in the bearing 28 also secured to one of the side plates 5" and held in place by collar 29. The shaft2'? carries a pulley 30 over which runs a belt 31 also passing over a pulley 31 secured to a shaft 82, also journalcd in bearings similar to the bearings 9 secured at each side of the casing 6. The shaft 82 also carries a pulley 33 driven by a belt 34 running over pulley 35 secured to the outer end of shaft 10. The belt 31 is normally quite loose so that it would not drive the pulley 30 and said belt is adapted to be tightened into driving condition by a belt tightener comprising a roller 36 carried on one end of a bell crank lever 37 journaled in a suitable bracket 38, said lever 37 carrying a bolt moving in an arcuate slot 39 in a plate on bracket 38, said bolt being adapted to be tightened by a wing nut 10 to sold said lever 37 in desired position.

A governor 41 is mounted on shaft 42 journaled in bearings 13 secured to casing 6 and in bearing 24, which governor comprises the balls 41 carried on oppositely disposed pairs of links 4E1", one pair of which is secured to the movable collar 11 urged away from member 41 by spring 4-1 formed with a groove in which is disposed the forked end 15 of a bell crank lever 15 suitably mounted on the side plates 5. The other end of lever 45 is connected by a link 46 to an arm 47 which controls a valve in the steam supply pipe 15. The shaft 42 has a pulley 44; se-

cured therto over which passes a belt 50 also passing over a pulley 51 secured to shaft 22. One or more drain openings are provided in the trough at the bottom of easing G from whiclrwill lead one or more suitable drain pipes 48-. A multiplicity of projectiles, such as small steel balls 19, are provided for the casing 6.

"The pulley 52 is secured to the shaft 10 by which power is delivered by the motor through a suitable belt.

In operation, the belt tightener lever 37 is moved to move roller 36 from the belt 31 and steam is turned into the pipe 12 by manipulation of the valve 15 When steam is admit-ted to the section 12 the pressure of the steam depresses piston 19 against the pressure of spring 20, so that the upper end of plunger rod 18 is withdrawn from the opening in the upper end of section 12. The steam can thus pass upwardly through the pipe 12. The projectiles or balls 49 roll into the opening 12 into pipe 12 and are carried along by the steam through said pipe and projected at high velocity at the upper end thereof. The projected balls strike against the vanes or blades 11 on the wheel 11 so that said wheel is rapidly rotated or driven. The lever 37 is now swung to tighten the belt 31 and the screws or helical members 21 are rotated to move the projectiles 49 toward the opening 12? in pipe 12. The projectiles after striking the wheel 11, roll back into the trough at the bottom of easing 6 and are. constantly moved toward and into the opening 12*. The exhaust steam passes out through the pipe 8 and any condensation is drained out through the pipe l8. The power from the motor is delivered to the desired point by a belt placed on the pulley 52 on the end of shaft 10. v

The supply of steam-is suitably regulated through the governor 41 and themechanism described. \Vhen it is desired to stop the motor the lever 37 is moved to remove roller 36'from belt 31 so as'to stop the drive of the screws 21. The steam is then turned off at the valve 15. It has been found, in practice, that if the steam is turned offbefore the drive is discontinued for screws 21 that said screws will jamb the balls or projectiles into the pipe 12. When the steam is shut off spring 21 moves plunger 18 upwardly to close the opening at the top of pipe sect-ion 12 and passage of balls 49 into said section is prevented.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a simple and efficient steam driven motor. The device is quite simple in operation and is easily manipulated and controlled. The device has been demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful.

It will, of course, be understood, that various changes may be-made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing' from the'scope of 1. A motor having in combination, a casing having walls converging toward the bottom thereof, an impulse wheel insaid casing, a pipe below said wheel and alined therewith, a multiplicity of balls in said casing, said pipe having a lateral opening therein adapted to receive said balls, means communicating with said pipe below said opening for supplying steam thereto, a plunger carrying a valve adapted to close the lower end of said pipe to prevent said balls pass ing downward therein, a piston in said pipe below said means for supplying steam and attached to said plunger, and a spring below said piston normally urging said valve to closed position whereby when said steam is admitted to said pipe said piston will be depressed against the pressure of said spring and said valve opened.

2. A motor having in combination, a closed casing having inwardly sloping sides at its lower portion, a trough at the lower ends of said sides and at the bottom of said casing, a conduit extending into said casing.

at an angle to the vertical, passing through said trough and having an opening in the side thereof disposed in said trough, a multiplicity of metal balls in said trough of less diameter than the internal diameter of said conduit, means for moving said balls toward said opening, a revoluble wheel mounted in said casing having vanes disposed in alinement with the end of said conduit, an outlet pipe at the top of said casing, a device "for supplying fluid under pressure to said conduit, and means in said conduit preventing the passage of the balls downwardly thereinto when the fluid supply is turned oii.

An impulse -motor having in combination, a casing having downwardly sloping sides and having a semi-cylindrical portion at its bottom, a pipe extending into said casing through said portion at an angle to the vertical, and having an opening through the side thereof communicating with said portion, a multiplicity of balls of smaller diameter than said pipe in said portion, a

shaft extending longitudinally through said portion at one side of said pipe, oppositely acting means carried by said shaft for moving .said balls toward said opening in said pipe, a wheel disposed in said casing above said pipe, having vanes with which said pipe is alined, a steam supply means connected to said pipe at the exterior of said casing, said pipe having a contracted portion above said steam supply means, a plunger adapted substantially to close said portion when no steam is supplied, means urging said plunger toward said portion, and a piston carried on said plunger below said steam supply means whereby when steam is supplied said plunger will be moved out of said portion.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH C. JOHNSTON. 

